Great beginners create a detailed plan at the start. The plan can be in their mind or on a page but one thing is clear: they don’t trust their limited experience. They use the plan to simulate what they can expect knowing that they have no clue what to expect. There’s humility in this and a deep desire to not mess things up.

Bad beginners wing it. They act like experts already. They say “I got this”. Their insecurity prevents them from really thinking it through. They can’t even admit that they’re a beginner.

This is the stuff of fixed versus growth mindsets established in Angela Duckworth’s “Grit”. But for now, the concept best applies to where it was first introduced to me in Gary Klein’s “Sources of Power”. That book review will be coming soon.

In the meantime, consider the power of being a great beginner. It’s the first step in becoming a great expert. Even the simplest plan (“here’s what the next three weeks look like”) can get you there.